It was not long after “men began to call on the name of the Lord” (Genesis 4:26b) that Satan’s influence permeated the four corners of the earth. The antediluvian world was putrid with sin. What God once saw as good had taken a turn for the worse. “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). The corruption was to such an extent that God decided to destroy mankind whom He had made (v. 7). Yet, there was a grain of salt among all the bitterness – “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (v. 8). God determined to save this righteous man from the impending doom; his family along with him.

Noah was given instruction for the assembly of a most impressive vessel (cf. Genesis 6:13-22). The ark would house he and his family, along with two of every sort of all flesh for the filling of the post-flood globe, sparing them all from the wrath to come. “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did” (Genesis 6:22). His faith “condemned the world” (Hebrews 11:7). He did that which God required, and was saved. The world reveled in unrighteousness, and perished.

There was something additional to the building of the ark which God required Noah to do, which was every bit as much impressive, if not more so. God had made the decision to destroy mankind, but the fruition of His promise would not be hasty. “And the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years’” (Genesis 6:3). The longsuffering of the Lord is most impressive. Instead of raining down His wrath in an instant, He gave the world opportunity to repent for one hundred and twenty years. Noah was not simply an ark builder, but a preacher sent by God to the sinful world. However, God “did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly” (2 Peter 2:5). The message of repentance and righteousness was rejected, and the result was destruction.

It was not that Noah’s message lacked power. For, it was not Noah’s message, but Christ’s. In His pre-incarnate spiritual state, Christ preached to those men through Noah and the agency of the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Peter 3:18-20; 2 Peter 1:19-21). These souls had the certified message, but were disobedient. During the time of Peter’s writing, and still now, the spirits of those men are in prison (v. 19). “The Lord knows how…to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment” (2 Peter 2:9). So, for one hundred and twenty years, in addition to building the ark, Noah proclaimed an inspired message of righteousness and salvation to an obstinate and sinful people. Indeed, Noah was a man of faith. “Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9).

As we undertake the work of evangelism incumbent upon us as disciples of Christ (cf. Matthew 28:18-20), we would do well to consider righteous Noah. The record of his resolve to spread the message of God’s lovingkindness is preserved for us this day. We should prayerfully consider his example, and seek to emulate his steps of faith.

Consider Noah, “a preacher of righteousness:”

1. Noah was outnumbered. “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth” (Genesis 6:11-12). Noah had no kindred spirit laboring with him. Aside from his family, Noah was alone. Every soul dwelling upon the face of the earth was wholly opposed to Noah’s way of living, and the message he proclaimed.
2. Noah’s message was outrageous. No doubt part of Noah’s message included the future global flood. Such universal judgment had never occurred, and will not occur again until the coming of Christ (cf. 2 Peter 3). Noah was a man who for one hundred and twenty years built an enormous vessel for a flood that showed no promise. But God had spoken, Noah believed, and so he preached. Additionally, his message was one of righteousness. He had the responsibility of pleading with a world of people, whose god was their belly (cf. Philippians 3:19), to deny themselves and walk with God. Not one soul is recorded as showing penitence.
3. Noah’s conversion rate was 0%. For one hundred and twenty years the preaching of Noah fell on deaf ears. As Jesus quoted Isaiah, “For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them” (Matthew 13:15). Their hearts were “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). Not one responded favorably to Noah’s preaching.
4. Noah still preached. He was outnumbered, but with him was the great “I AM” (Exodus 3:14). His message was outrageous. It was foolishness to the perishing world, but to Noah it was a message of salvation (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18). His conversion rate was 0%, but that did not stop him from doing God’s will. He was not swallowed up in discouragement, but followed God, and did His bidding.

Christ has commanded us, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). We are outnumbered in this sinful world. Our message we bring will be unpopular. We will not convert everyone we speak to. However, we must preach the gospel of Christ to the perishing world. It is God’s will. It is our duty. It is the only way men will be saved (cf. Romans 1:16-17; Acts 4:12).